An alpha particle is emitted from 88Ra226. What is the mass and atomic number of the daughter nucleus?
Correct answer: C. Mass number 222, atomic number 86
- A. Mass number 224, atomic number 86
- B. Mass number 220, atomic number 80
- C. Mass number 222, atomic number 86
- D. Mass number 226, atomic number 87
Explanation
When an alpha particle is emitted, the mass number decreases by 4, and the atomic number decreases by 2. Therefore, the daughter nucleus will have a mass number of 226−4 = 222 and an atomic number of 88−2 = 86.
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